India Celebrates Diwali

Diwali, the festival of lights, is the largest Hindu festival of the year. View slideshow

Today India celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights, which traditionally commemorates the homecoming of Hindu god Rama after 14 years in exile.

“Deepavali” or “Diwali,” which roughly translates to “a row of lamps,” also marks the beginning of the Hindu new year and is typically celebrated by lighting earthen lamps, exchanging gifts and worshipping Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Apart from the ceremonial lighting of lamps, devotees burn fire crackers on this day, a ritual largely believed to ward off evil spirits. View our slideshow.

Firecracker to ward off evil spirits....lmfao. that is certainly not true... firecrackers wernt used by our ancestors, the lamps and the firecrackers are lit to celebrate a homecoming, of goodness after defeating evil. Like when rama defeated ravana. the reporter on this was clearly not doing his homework